====== MBHP: The MIDIbox Hardware Platform ======

**The hardware of all MIDIbox [[projects]] can be assembled in a modular way. Some projects have special designed modules, others only require a [[Core Module]]. Every device needs at least one Core.**

An official overview of the available modules can be found here: [[http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp.html|MBHP]] <sup>uCApps</sup>

SmashTV has very nice 3D illustrations and interactive graphics on his page that are quite helpful to assemble the modules: [[http://www.avishowtech.com/mbhp/info.html|SmashTV's MBHP Modules]]. Note though that the layouts may differ from the PCBs available at [[http://www.mikes-elektronikseite.de|Mike's Midishop]].

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====== Module Overview ======
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<box 99% blue|Microcontroller module>{{ icon:iconuc.png?100x100}}
  * **[[Core Module]]**
  * [[PIC Programmer Modules]] //! These are not needed if you order PICs from SmashTV or Mike's !//
    * [[PIC Burner]] actual PIC-Burner 
    * [[JDM]] (expired) but also working Module to Burn all PICs (16F877,16F88,18F452 & 18F4620)
</box>

<box 47% left green|Input modules>{{ icon:icondevice.png?100x100}}
  * [[AIN Module]] Analog Input (0-5V)
  * [[DIN Module]] Digial Input (ON/OFF)
</box>

<box 47% right red|Output modules>{{ icon:iconlcd.png?100x100}}
  * [[DOUT Module (Digital Output)|DOUT Module]] Digital Output (eg. LED ON/OFF)
  * [[LCD Module (Liquid Crystal Display)|LCD Module]] Liquid Crystal Display
  * [[AOUT Module (Analog Out)|AOUT Module]] Analog Out to output Voltages (for Controls)
</box>

<box 47% left orange|I/O modules>{{ icon:iconbs.png?100x100}}
  * [[BankStick]] 32k / 64k Memory module
  * [[IIC Modules]] to communicate to other (Microcontroller-) Devices via I2C
  * [[MF Module]] to control Motorfaders
  * [[LTC Module]] MIDI LED Indicators + 1 MIDI-Out + 1 Thru (+ 1 optional to-COM-Port)
  * [[USB Modules]] PC/USB Interface
  * [[http://www.ucapps.de/midibox_ext.html|MIDIbox Extensions]] <sup>uCApps</sup>
</box>

<box 47% right red|Sound moudules>{{ icon:iconspeaker.png?100x100}}
  * [[SID Module]] for the famous C64 SoundChip
  * [[OPL3 Module]] for the FM-Chips YMF262 and YAC512
  * [[midibox_speakjet|IIC SpeakJet Module]] for the SpeakJet SoundChip
</box>

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====== Still Confused? ======

**If you have problems understanding the structure of a MIDIbox, just think of your PC: **
  * Processor => PIC18F
  * Mainboard => Core Module
  * Keyboard => DIN Module
  * Soundcard => FM (OPL3) or SID Module
  * Graphics Card => DOUT Module (with connected LEDs)
  * Display => LCD Module (Liquid Crysal Display)
  * BIOS => the Bootloader
  * Operating Sytem (Windows, Linux, Macintosh) => MIOS.syx (MIDIbox Operating System)
  * The application you work with => MB64e.syx, MBSID.syx or MBSeq.syx


Luckily - just as in the example - you don't need to open up your case and desolder the processor just to update "Word": all Applications can be uploaded via MIDI by SysEx commands.  You can even update new MIOS versions without having to burn a microcontroller! No PIC burning at all is required when you order your PIC-Microcontrollers at SmashTV or Mike.

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====== For Developers ======

If you have somehow improved a PCB layout, please submit your changes here:
  * [[Layout Improvements|PCB Layout Improvements]] for MBHP Modules

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